Modular Shoe Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The claimed invention is a modular shoe apparatus which is optimized for storage and for efficient use of materials, which includes stylistic upper ornamental components which may be selectively, securely and unobtrusively attached to sole components of various styles and configurations thus offering a consumer a choice in the marketplace over a traditional shoe apparatus.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This Application Claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/088,242 filed Aug. 12, 2008.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwear, more specifically to a shoe comprised of modular stylistic components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a modular shoe device.

FIGS. 2A shows a top perspective view of a sole component or a modular shoe structure.

FIG. 2A shows a side perspective and side perspective view of a sole component or a modular shoe structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of modular shoe device in which hook components and eye components are in a detached position.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a modular shoe apparatus in which ornamental upper component is a lace to which a hook component is attached.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further alternate embodiment of modular shoe apparatus in which ornamental upper component is a lace to which a hook component is attached.

FIG. 6 further illustrates one structural embodiment of a shoe loop component fixably attached to the bottom of inner surface of upper sole layer.

Glossary

As used herein, the term “sole component” means the sole and a heel portion of a shoe, to which an upper ornamental portion may be selectively attached. A sole component generally consists of a lower portion (to which a heel is affixed), a middle portion which provides cushioning and contouring adapted to comfortably receive a foot, and an upper finished portion which is an aesthetic lining.

As used herein, the term “heel” means a flat sole, a heel which protrudes from the sole in varying widths and configurations, platform heels, wedge heels, spiked, squared heels, rounded heels and irregularly shaped heels.

As used herein, the term “upper ornamental component” means the stylistic or ornamental portion of a shoe which is attached to the sole component by a shoe loop. An upper ornamental component may be open or closed toe.

As used herein, the term “shoe loop” means a hook and eye device which is adapted to secure a sole component to an upper ornamental component. A shoe loop will generally comprise a hook portion which securely engages a loop portion. The loop portion is generally attached to the sole component by adhesive, sewing, molding, a heat process and/or a pressurization process. The shoe loop may be affixed to the sole between the bottom and middle portion or between the middle and upper portion of a sole component. The eye portion of a shoe loop is affixed to an upper ornamental component adhesive, sewing, molding, a heat process, and/or a pressurization process. A shoe loop may be made of metal, plastic or fiberglass and may be tinted or transparent to minimize its appearance. A shoe loop may be visible, stylistic or unobtrusive in its visual effect.

BACKGROUND

In the U.S. alone, the shoe store industry includes about 30,000 stores with combined annual revenue of almost $55 billion year. World-wide, the shoe industry comprises an $800 million dollar a year market. (These figures do not include shoe storage devices and accessories.)

Shoe consumers buy multiple pairs of shoes each year, and are receptive to new styles and innovations. Large retail outlets such as Payless Shoe Source, Brown Shoe Company (which owns Famous Footwear and Naturalizer), Foot Locker and DSW, and shoe manufacturers, such as Nike, all have retail operations. Additionally, most high-end retailers such as Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales have large shoe departments with vast retail outlets. These vast retail outlets compete heavily to offer new shoe styles and appease trends.

Currently, the shoe industry is highly competitive and strongly concentrated. The top 50 companies account for about 80 percent of industry revenue. The industry relies on changes in styles (such as colors, materials, heel size and shape, straps, vamps and ornamentation). Various retailers attempt to position themselves by differentiating style, comfort and quality. Additionally, shoe manufacturers invest billions of dollars each year in branding. Marketing research further indicated that consumers desire to own a variety of styles and that a primary motivation in purchasing a new pair of shoes is to complement existing clothing and accessories. According to Wikipedia, “on average, a female from ages 13-16 may own about 15 pairs of shoes including sneakers. An older woman 16-21, who perhaps has a job, 25-40 pairs; a mature woman 25-50, anywhere from 40-60 pair of shoes.”

The woman's and children's shoe industry is particularly trend-driven, with consumers seeking innovative styles and products to differentiate themselves and make a fashion statement.

Devices for storing shoes are also a vast consumer market. Most dwellings have standard size closets, thus the market for shoe storage devices and very limited floor space for storing shoes. Approximately 300,000 websites offer shoe storage devices and products (such as racks and clear plastic containers), with most of these devices directed to increasing visibility of the shoes that are stored so a woman can locate the pair she would like to wear on a particular day by visually scanning her collection.

Normally, the base, or sole of the shoe, is manufactured in standard sizes and, aside from the height of the heel, is relatively standard among the various shoes. The upper portion, referred to hereinafter as the “upper ornamental component”, is the primary part of the shoe which is the most visible portion of the shoe. Nearly all the stylistic changes in the shoe take place in the upper and it is the portion which must accommodate the width and length of the foot. Sandals are usually open at the toe, and comprised of one or more straps. “Closed shoes” encase the toes in a portion of the shoe known as the “toe box.” Shoe straps may be used to hold the shoe in place by fitting around any portion of the upper foot ankle, in any configuration or combination. Straps may buckle, snap, tie or be connected by other attachment means.

The comfort of any shoe is enhanced when the upper portion of the shoe and any or all straps are adjustable. While the sole portion in standard sizes is acceptable for most people, it is a challenge to create a shoe with an upper portion and straps that fits all people properly.

Foot specifications vary in width, bone structure, toe length and protrusions. Feet can swell from changes in weather or excessive walking, and adjustability is a particular advantage. Additionally, most people can have one foot that is wider than the other. While each person's feet are different, one thing all people have in common is that they are often uncomfortable when the shoe they are wearing does not fit properly.

Adjustability of a shoe enhances its comfort; comfort and customized shoe fit are a critical factor in competitively positioning a shoe in the market place.

It is desirable to offer a highly competitive, innovative product to retail shoe sellers that is functionally novel and stylistically appealing, and which offers customer loyalty and provides an incentive to the consumer to purchase future related products from the retail shoe seller. It is desirable to have an innovative shoe device which is directed at capturing a large the female shoe consumer market by addressing their needs for style variations and efficient use of available closet and luggage space available to store shoes.

It is further desirable to have a “green” product in the shoe industry which satisfies the desire for infinite variations in style with minimal waste by reducing shoe packaging, and more effectively using manufactured components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The claimed invention is a modular shoe apparatus which is optimized for storage and for efficiently combining easily assembled, space-efficient stylistic upper ornamental components with varying sole components, thus offering a consumer a choice in the marketplace over a traditional shoe apparatus which offers a single unchangeable appearance, and requires considerable manufacturing materials and storages space. In various embodiments, stylistic upper ornamental components and sole components are sold separately. The invention disclosed herein further includes a unique shoe loop component which is specially adapted to allow for convenient assembly and disassembly of modular a shoe component, and is sufficiently durable and secure to maintain its functionality under the weight and force of walking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of a modular shoe system, only some of which are depicted in the figures. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar materials from a modular shoe system is made, and the inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout FIG. 1 shows modular shoe device 100, which includes sole component 10, ornamental upper components 20, 22 and a plurality of novel shoe loop components 30 comprised of loop members 32 and hook members 34 in a configuration generally symmetrical on each side of sole component. Hook member 34 of Upper ornamental upper components 20, 22 may be attached at various points to sole component.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, it is not necessary that loop members correspond in number to hook members on upper ornamental component 10 so long as there are sufficient hook members 34 to adequately secure a particular stylistic embodiment of upper component 20, 22 to sole component 10. It is, however, essential that hook members 34 and loop members 32 be systematically and equidistantly placed to allow interchangeability and modularity of various component parts.

Because exact congruity in the number of hook members 34 and loop members 32 is not required, upper ornamental components 20, 22 and sole components are completely modular, having an infinite number of combinations (i.e., mix and match). Additionally, ornamental upper components 20, 22 and sole components 10 may be purchased separately and easily fitted. Worn components can be replaced. Additionally, ornamental upper components 20, 22 can be adjusted to the size (e.g., width) of an individual wearer's feet.

FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively show a top perspective and side perspective view of sole components 10 to which loop members 32 have been attached. In the embodiment shown, loop members 32 are attached by an adhesive, heat or pressurizing method, or sewn, between the lower and middle portion of sole component 10, but can be attached between the upper and middle portion. Loop members 32 are structurally attached to sole component 10 in a manner to bear weight of a wearer (of up to 280 pounds) and the repetitive force and motion of walking without separating from sole component 10 or disengaging from hook component 34.

A sole component generally consists of a lower portion 84 to which a heel is affixed, a middle portion 86 which provides cushioning and contouring adapted to comfortably receive a foot, and an upper finished portion 88 which is an aesthetic lining.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of modular shoe device 100 in which hook components 32 and eye component 34 are in a detached position, illustrating their complementary structure and equidistant spacing regardless of whether the number of which hook components 32 and eye component 34 correspond in number. FIG. 3 further illustrates the ease of assembling and attaching sole component 10 and ornamental upper components 20, 22.

There are a number of ways of attaching sole component 10 to one or more ornamental upper components 20, 22, and an infinite variety of stylistic possibilities. For example, one embodiment of modular shoe apparatus 100 may include a single strap or multiples straps, leather or fabric panels or laces.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of modular shoe apparatus 100 in which ornamental upper component is a lace to which a hook component 22 is attached. Alternatively, a lace may be threaded directly through loop component 34.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further alternate embodiment of modular shoe apparatus 100 in which ornamental upper component is a lace to which a hook component 22 is attached. Alternatively, a lace may be threaded directly through loop component 34.

FIG. 6 further illustrates one structural embodiment of loop component 34 to the bottom of inner surface of upper sole layer 88. As FIG. 6 illustrates, loop component 34 is constructed of metal, and contoured to fit securely to the outer edge of sole, with multiple flattened surfaces adapted to receive an adhesive substance, or configured to be sewn, pressurized or heat treated to be fixedly attached to sole component 20. 

1. A modular shoe apparatus comprised of: a sole component; and at least one ornamental upper component which may be selectively and securely attached to said sole component by a plurality of shoe loops each consisting of a hook component and a loop component.
 2. The modular shoe apparatus of claim one wherein at least one of said loop components are each securely and permanently attached to said sole component at a point which lies between two layers of said sole component and are further adapted to temporarily receive at least one hook component, and hold said hook component securely in place until selectively disengaged by a user.
 3. The modular shoe apparatus of claim two wherein at least one of said loop components are each securely and permanently attached to said sole component at a point which lies between two layers of said sole component embedded between two layers of said sole component by a method selected from a group consisting of applying an adhesive, sewing, pressurizing and heat treatment.
 4. The modular shoe apparatus of claim one wherein said sole apparatus includes a structural configuration selected from a group consisting of a flat sole, a high heel, a squared heel, a rounded heal, a spiked heel, a wedge heel and an irregularly shaped heel.
 5. The modular shoe apparatus of claim one wherein said ornamental upper component apparatus includes a structural configuration selected from a group consisting of a panel, a strap and a lace.
 6. The modular shoe component of claim one wherein said sole component is comprised of multiple layers selected from a group consisting of bottom sole layer, a padding layer and an upper lining.
 7. The modular shoe component of claim one wherein said hook components and said loop components are spaced at a uniform distance.
 8. The modular shoe component of claim one wherein said hook components and said loop components are spaced at a uniform distance but are not equal in number.
 9. The modular shoe component of claim one wherein said hook components are arcuate and structurally adapted to conform to a shoe layer.
 10. The modular shoe component of claim one wherein said hook components are arcuate and structurally adapted for sewing.
 11. A method of manufacturing a modular shoe apparatus comprised of: constructing a sole component; securely attaching at least one loop component to said sole component; and selectively and securely attaching at least one hook component to at least one ornamental upper component.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said loop components is securely and permanently attached to said sole component at a point which lies between two layers of said sole component embedded between two layers of said sole component by a method selected from a group consisting of applying an adhesive, sewing, pressurizing and heat treatment.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said sole component is comprised of multiple layers selected from a group consisting of bottom sole layer, a padding layer and an upper lining.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said hook components and said loop components are spaced at a uniform distance.
 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said hook components and said loop components are spaced at a uniform distance but are not equal in number.
 16. The method of claim one wherein said hook components are arcuate and structurally adapted to conform to a shoe layer.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein said hook components are arcuate and structurally adapted for sewing.
 18. A modular shoe system comprised of: a sole component; and at least one ornamental upper component which may be selectively, securely and unobtrusively attached to said sole component by a plurality of shoe loops each consisting of a hook component and a loop component.
 19. The modular shoe system of claim 18 wherein at least one of said loop components are each securely and permanently attached to said sole component at a point which lies between two layers of said sole component and are further adapted to temporarily receive at least one hook component, and hold said hook component securely in place until selectively disengaged by a user.
 20. The modular shoe system of claim 18 wherein at least one of said loop components are each securely and permanently attached to said sole component at a point which lies between two layers of said sole component embedded between two layers of said sole component by a method selected from a group consisting of applying an adhesive, sewing, pressurizing and heat treatment. 